Packing and Goodbyes

So I got my invitation on the 19th. I wasn't around because I was in DC visiting some of my old friends with Pham. I spent the first night hanging out with Erin and some of her friends around NOVA. At nights my parents told me my invitation arrived and I had Mum open it. Sure enough, as I thought it was Georgia. The next morning Erin made us some pancakes and we took a little walk around. After she went off somewhere else with friends, Pham and I got brunch and drove around for 2 hours looking for Harley's road. Finally I found it and we essentially waited for Harley to get back. We watched an insane amount of college b-ball. Cheered on and celebrated Northern Iowa as they tackled Kansas.

Then we got down with the get down. Don't ask about the rest of the night... good times in h-town.

Pham and I drove home that afternoon and I got a good look at my invitation packet. I was so full of angst and worry, but alas I accepted my invitation a few days later. As my brother Dean says "You've already crossed your Rubicon whether you realize it or not, so 'burn your bridges' and keep moving forward". Good advice.

This weekend I spent with my dad going backpacking in the Pine Barrens. We did a short 6 miles in, 6 miles out. I'm pretty sure this was the same trip I did as my first backpacking trip, but maybe not. It was fun, but VERY cold. I tried to start a fire with flint and steel, and I got really close, but things were pretty damp. Plus all I had were a few water proof matches. We got a fire going but it was soooo needy. All the other campsites complained about it, too. The night was good, but once again, very cold. From what I hear it'll be good practice for Georgia.

My fear about leaving comes and goes. To be honest, two years is a long time right now, but looking back in 15-20 years the two years I spend in Georgia will stand out whether for better or for worse. While if I was home the two years might only blend into the rest of my life. Plus, I have been waiting for my adventure for quite some time. I'm really not ready to settle down anytime soon, and this is soooo much better than substituting.

A little angst is nothing to be worried about. This is going to be at best an amazingly fun experience, and at worst a good learning opportunity.

INVITATION

So I got my medical clearance last week, and now I am getting an invitation. I was on a field trip with the Nursery School (a Sesame Street themed, Planetarium show) when I felt a vibrate in my pocket. At first I figured it was a text message, but it kept going past the usual three soft tones. I took a quick look at my phone and I recognized the 202 area code that I had become so accustomed to as a former DC resident. I knew it was the Peace Corps. I stepped out of line, looked at the head teacher and said "It's the Peace Corps, I'm gonna take this outside". So I pick it up (it was a nice day) and it's my Placement Officer. She mentioned the snafu that happened in with my nystagmus and that it was now okay and she wanted to ask me some questions about my file.

Her first question was about my interview. In my interview I mentioned my siblings experiences serving on LDS missions and how much a positive growth experience it was for them, and that I want to serve in the Peace Corps for similar reasons. So she wanted to clarify that I understood the Peace Corps' policy on proselytizing, despite me not being a member. I let her know that I understood and I wanted to do the Peace Corps so that I could focus on service.

The next thing she said was that I was highly qualified candidate as a secondary education teacher and she'd love to get me going towards the Peace Corps. She said that due to people delaying their applications they were wondering if I could leave a month earlier. As in April 26. Yes, that is only 6 weeks away... I told her I'd think about it and let her know by the end of the work day.

I called Cat on the way back from the field trip and asked her look up what country was leaving April 26 and meet us for lunch with the answer. Well Mum and I got to Fridays and waited for only a few seconds before I had to know, so I called Erin at work. Cat arrived at the same time as I called and she goes tauntingly exclaims "I know where Tom's going, I know where Tom's going". At about the same time I hear from Erin and Cat... Georgia.

I spend the whole lunch trying to decide... Armenia in late May, or Georgia in late April. When I got home I did some research, called Dave Lonardo, called Dad, read Wikipedia, CIA Factbook, and finally decided to go with Georgia. My main problem was feeling guilty about not being able to spend enough time with friends and family before leaving. But in the end I realized that Georgia will be a great experience, and when I COS I'll be out in time to travel and get a job at a school.

So in a day or two I should be getting an invitation package. Ready or not, here I coommeeee.

Medical Clearance... NOT.... Well okay, but first...

So I woke up on March 9th to an e-mail from the Peace Corps (for some reason every update e-mail is sent at 5AM exactly). I thought, "it's waaayyy too soon, they are letting me know that I'm missing something," and online all the toolkit said was "Complete. A decision has been reached regarding your medical review. Please look for a letter in the mail."

So like anybody I went to work, I went to the gym, ate lunch, except I had this looming over my head like a hawk going after a little field mouse. I eventually come home to see an e-mail from the Education Desk:

Greetings from the Assessment & Placement Office at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, DC!

The Office of Medical Services has informed us that you have received your medical clearance. Over the next few weeks, your file will be reviewed by the Assessment & Placement Staff for further evaluation. This includes evaluation of technical skills, suitability and legal information. Upon completion of the assessment, you may be considered for an invitation. Please keep in mind that this stage in the process can be competitive as there are typically two applicants nominated for each spot available. Given this, an invitation is never guaranteed and applicants should make no plans to go overseas unless an invitation has been issued and you have spoken to headquarters staff to accept your invitation."

So I was pretty much a school boy at a video game store. So I was pretty excited, and that night I e-mailed an updated resume and details about the two jobs I work at now. So the next day I had the day off from school so I slept until 9. I woke up, got breakfast and such, but then I got a phone call. It was a 202 area code that I miss so much, and I knew it was the Peace Corps. The woman on the phone was really nice from OMS. She told me that Placement looked at my file and had some questions about my nystagmus, despite the fact I was already cleared. So she wanted me to write a personal statement to the effect of, "I'm not blind, and nystagmus won't affect my work." LAME. So I did that in the morning then faxed it to the Peace Corps that afternoon. She told me I had a Hold on my account because of it, but I haven't seen anything about it on my Toolkit.

I'm still hoping that I'll find out the deal within a couple weeks.

The next time I write I'll either have an invitation or I will be pretty sad....